A Fortress by the Golden Horn
The fortifications stretching from the north-west corner of the walls around the Palace of Blachernae down to the Golden Horn formed one of the strongest defenses of Constantinople. This system consisted of two parallel walls, reinforced with transverse walls, creating a kind of small citadel near the shore.
The inner wall was built during the reign of Emperor Heraclius in the 7th century.
The outer wall was later added by Emperor Leo V the Armenian in the early 9th century.
Together, these structures played a major role in protecting one of the most important districts of the city.
Why the Heraclian Wall Was Built
The wall of Heraclius was constructed in 627, during a time of great danger. Before that year, the Blachernae district, located at the foot of the Sixth Hill of Constantinople, was just a suburb lying outside the main defenses of the city Rose Festival Tour.
The area was famous for the Church of the Theotokos, which was believed to contain the girdle (belt) of the Virgin Mary. Citizens of Constantinople considered the church itself to be a kind of divine shield for the city. In their eyes, the sanctuary did not need stone walls for protection. If danger ever arose, the treasures of the church could easily be moved inside the city walls, as had been done earlier during the reign of Justinian the Great.
However, this confidence would be shaken in 627.
The Siege of 627
At that time, the Byzantine Empire was at war with the Persians. While Emperor Heraclius carried out campaigns deep in enemy lands, a Persian army set up camp at Chalcedon (on the Asian side of the Bosporus). Their plan was to join forces with the Avars, who had come to attack Constantinople from the European side.
Fortunately for the Byzantines, the imperial fleet controlled the Bosporus Strait, preventing the Persians from crossing. The Avars were left to fight alone. They attacked fiercely, but after heavy losses and strong resistance from the city, they abandoned the siege.
The Threat to Blachernae
Before retreating, however, the Avars wreaked havoc in the suburbs. They burned the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damianus and the Church of Saint Nicholas. Next, they rode into the open ground near the Church of the Theotokos of Blachernae, intending to destroy it as well.
For reasons unknown, they stopped short of their plan, and the church miraculously survived unharmed. This escape was seen by the people as proof of the Virgin’s protection. Yet at the same time, it became clear that the shrine was exposed and vulnerable.
The Government’s Response
The Byzantine authorities, realizing the danger, ordered the construction of a wall along the western side of the Blachernae quarter. This new barrier ensured that the church would be safeguarded against future attacks.
For nearly two centuries, this wall was known as the Single Wall of Blachernae. It stood alone until Emperor Leo V, in the 9th century, strengthened the area further by adding another outer wall, making the quarter one of the best-fortified parts of the capital.
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